DAY #174: John 17:6-26

After praying for his own glorification, Jesus turned the direction of his petition to his disciples. These were the men God had selected to give to his Son as his disciples. To these men, given to him by the Father out of the world, Jesus had expressed the reality of the Father’s person to them . And they had kept his word. Their faith wasn’t perfect, and they would fail their Savior in the coming hours; but their commitment was in the right place, and they would return to this faith and to obedience to God.

Jesus would be departing the world to rejoin the Father; the disciples would stay behind to carry out God’s plan by spreading the good news of salvation. Such a mission would arouse great hostility from the evil one, so the disciples needed special protection. Jesus asked that the Holy Father would keep them and care for them. The prayer itself indicates confidence in God’s ability to “keep” his children, while at the same time allowing the disciples to hear Jesus’ desire for how they are to be kept. Jesus prayed that they would be united just as he and the Father are united. They should have a unified desire and purpose to serve and glorify God. Then they would have the strongest of all possible unions.

Jesus had told his disciples many things about his coming death—hardly a joyful topic. But after these events would take place—especially after the Resurrection—the disciples would be filled with joy, for they would then understand that Jesus had conquered death and Satan and had brought eternal life to all who believe in him.

The world hates Christians because Christians’ values differ from the world’s, and because Christians expose the world’s values for what they are—absolutely worthless. Because Christ’s followers don’t cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they are living accusations against the world’s immorality. The world follows Satan’s agenda, and Satan is the avowed enemy of Jesus and his people.

Jesus did not pray that God would take them out of the world to protect them from the hatred and persecution to come, rather that they would be kept safe from the evil one—that through difficult circumstances they would not fall prey to the devil. The only way believers can be witnesses to the world is to be witnessing for Christ in the world. We must carry our message, trusting God for his protection. Jesus was not a part of the world’s system, headed by Satan. Neither are believers a part of the world because they have been born again.

Jesus came into the world on a mission for the Father; so he sent these disciples into the world on a mission by the Son. That mission was to make God known. This is an important and exciting theme in John’s Gospel. The Father sent the Son into the world, the Father and the Son sent the Spirit to the disciples, and the disciples are sent by the Father and Son into the world.
It is up to us to carry on Jesus’ mission—to make God known to others.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, help me be about Your mission today. Help me, remind me, prode me, shake me. Put the needs of others right before my eyes. Give me a heart to love all and serve all and most important give me opportunities to share about you today. I want to be a messenger of your love today, Lord.

“For God was in Christ, restoring the world to Himself. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to others.” 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (LB)


“Remember why He is waiting. He is giving us time to get His message of salvation out to others.” 2 Peter 3:15 (LB)